# Maharashtra – Districts List, Cities, Population & Literacy (Census 2011)

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/

State · India 

# Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state of India with its capital at Mumbai and Nagpur. At the 2011 Census it was home to **112,374,333 people** — 9.3% of India and 2nd of 36 states and union territories — in 35 districts, 535 towns and 43,665 villages. 45% lived in towns, and literacy was 82.3% (above the national 73.0%).

- 112,374,333people (2011)
- 35districts (2011)
- 535towns
- 82.3%literacy

## Who lives in Maharashtra?

Maharashtra had **112,374,333 people** at the 2011 Census — 9.3% of India's population and 2nd of 36 states and union territories by population. There were 929 women for every 1,000 men (below the India figure of 943; 23rd of 36 states and union territories). Among children under 7 the ratio was 894 girls per 1,000 boys (the India figure is 918). An average household had 4.6 people, against 4.9 across India.

## How literate is Maharashtra?

82.3% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (above India's 73.0%), 11th of 36 states and union territories. Men were at 88.4% and women at 75.9% — a gap of 12.5 points (it is 16.2 points across India). Among its districts, literacy is highest in [Mumbai Suburban](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai-suburban/) (89.9%) and lowest in [Nandurbar](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nandurbar/) (64.4%).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## What do people in Maharashtra do for a living?

44.0% of people worked in 2011 (women: 31.1%). Of all workers, 23% farmed their own land, 22% were farm labourers, 2% worked in household industry and 41% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 11% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 46% of workers here, against 38% across India. The most farm-dependent of its districts is [Hingoli](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/hingoli/) (75% of workers in farming) and the least is [Mumbai](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai/) (1% of workers in farming).

**********

**■** Cultivators 23 (23%) · **■** Farm labourers 22 (22%) · **■** Household industry 2 (2%) · **■** Other work 41 (41%) · **■** Marginal 11 (11%)

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Cities and towns of Maharashtra

45.2% of people lived in towns and cities (above India's 31.1%), 10th of 36 states and union territories. The Census counted 535 towns: 269 statutory towns with a municipality and 266 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. 45 cities have 1 lakh (100,000) people or more, and 11 passed 10 lakh: [Greater Mumbai](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai-suburban/area-not-under-any-sub-district/greater-mumbai/), [Pune](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/pune/pune-city/pune-802814/), [Greater Mumbai](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai/area-not-under-any-sub-district/greater-mumbai/), [Nagpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nagpur/nagpur-04032/nagpur/), [Thane](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/thane/thane/thane/), [Pimpri Chinchwad](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/pune/haveli/pimpri-chinchwad/), [Nashik](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nashik/nashik/nashik/), [Kalyan-Dombivli](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/thane/kalyan/kalyan-dombivli/), [Vasai-Virar City](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/thane/vasai/vasai-virar-city/), [Aurangabad](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/aurangabad/aurangabad/aurangabad/) and [Navi Mumbai](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/thane/thane/navi-mumbai/). The largest is [Greater Mumbai](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai-suburban/area-not-under-any-sub-district/greater-mumbai/) with 9,356,962 people, home to 18% of the urban population.

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Villages of Maharashtra

Maharashtra had 43,665 census villages, 40,959 of them inhabited. The average inhabited village had 1,503 people; 1,486 villages had 5,000 people or more. The largest: [Fursungi](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/pune/haveli/fursungi/) (66,062), [Pimpalgaon Baswant](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nashik/niphad/pimpalgaon-baswant/) (41,559), [Shevgaon](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/ahmadnagar/shevgaon/shevgaon/) (38,375), [Manjari Bk](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/pune/haveli/manjari-bk/) (36,816) and [Nandiwali Tarf Pachanand](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/thane/kalyan/nandiwali-tarf-pachanand/) (36,163).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Where is Maharashtra, and what is it like?

The capital is [Nagpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nagpur/nagpur-04032/nagpur/). It covers 307,713 km², so in 2011 there were about 365 people per km². It borders [Chhattisgarh](https://wherepedia.org/india/chhattisgarh/), [Goa](https://wherepedia.org/india/goa/), [Gujarat](https://wherepedia.org/india/gujarat/), [Karnataka](https://wherepedia.org/india/karnataka/), [Madhya Pradesh](https://wherepedia.org/india/madhya-pradesh/) and [Telangana](https://wherepedia.org/india/telangana/). Official language: Marathi. Its highest point is Kalsubai.

Source: [Wikidata (CC0) — capital, area, languages, neighbours; retrieved 2026-10-29](https://www.wikidata.org/).

### Weather and best time to visit

At Mumbai, the hottest month is May (average 37 °C), the coldest Dec (20 °C), and the wettest Jul (361 mm of rain). The most comfortable months are **October to February**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Bombay Presidency (today's Maharashtra) in history

The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Bombay Presidency (today's Maharashtra) as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed.

> BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, a province or presidency of British India, consisting partly of British districts, and partly of native states under the administration of a governor. This territory extends from 13° 53′ to 28° 45′ N., and from 66° 40′ to 76° 30′ E., and is bounded on the N. by Baluchistan, the Punjab and Rajputana; on the E. by Indore, the Central Provinces and Hyderabad; on the S. by Madras and Mysore; and on the W. by the Arabian Sea. Within these limits lie the Portuguese settlements of Diu, Damaun and Goa, and the native state of Baroda which has direct relations with the government of India; while politically Bombay includes the settlement of Aden. The total area, including Sind but excluding Aden, is 188,745 sq. m., of which 122,984 sq. m. are under British and 65,761 under native rule. The total population (1901) is 25,468,209, of which 18,515,587 are resident in British territory and 6,908,648 in native states. The province is divided into four commissionerships and twenty-six districts. The four divisions are the northern or Gujarat, the central or Deccan, the southern or Carnatic, and Sind. The twenty-six districts are: Bombay City, Ahmedabad, Broach, Kaira, Panch Mahals, Surat, Thana, Ahmednagar, Khandesh (partitioned into two districts in 1906), Nasik, Poona, Satara, Sholapur, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwar, Kanara, Kolaba, Ratnagiri, Karachi, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Thar and Parkar, and Upper Sind Frontier. The native states comprise in all 353 separate units, which are administered either by political agents or by the collectors of the districts in which the smaller states are situated. The chief groups of states are North Gujarat, comprising Cutch, Kathiawar agency, Palanpur agency, Mahi Kantha agency, Rewa Kantha agency and Cambay; South Gujarat, comprising Dharampur, Bansda and Sachin; North Konkan, Nasik and Khandesh, comprising Khandesh political agency, Surgana and Jawhar;

Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica).

Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted.

## Population of Maharashtra compared with India

■ Maharashtra · ■ India

Literacy (age 7+) ****82.3%**

**73.0%

Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****929**

**943

Child sex ratio (0–6) ****894**

**918

Working population ****44.0%**

**39.8%

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Districts of Maharashtra

District People Sub-districts Towns Literacy 

[Thane](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/thane/) 11,060,148 15 51 84.5% 

[Pune](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/pune/) 9,429,408 14 35 86.2% 

[Mumbai Suburban](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai-suburban/) 9,356,962 1 1 89.9% 

[Nashik](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nashik/) 6,107,187 15 25 82.3% 

[Nagpur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nagpur/) 4,653,570 14 41 88.4% 

[Ahmadnagar](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/ahmadnagar/) 4,543,159 14 19 79.1% 

[Solapur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/solapur/) 4,317,756 11 13 77.0% 

[Jalgaon](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/jalgaon/) 4,229,917 15 20 78.2% 

[Kolhapur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/kolhapur/) 3,876,001 12 23 81.5% 

[Aurangabad](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/aurangabad/) 3,701,282 9 16 79.0% 

[Nanded](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nanded/) 3,361,292 16 17 75.5% 

[Mumbai](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/mumbai/) 3,085,411 1 1 89.2% 

[Satara](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/satara/) 3,003,741 11 22 82.9% 

[Amravati](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/amravati/) 2,888,445 14 12 87.4% 

[Sangli](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/sangli/) 2,822,143 10 7 81.5% 

[Yavatmal](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/yavatmal/) 2,772,348 16 18 82.8% 

[Raigarh](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/raigarh/) 2,634,200 15 42 83.1% 

[Buldana](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/buldana/) 2,586,258 13 12 83.4% 

[Bid](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/bid/) 2,585,049 11 9 77.0% 

[Latur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/latur/) 2,454,196 10 7 77.3% 

[Chandrapur](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/chandrapur/) 2,204,307 15 23 80.0% 

[Dhule](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/dhule/) 2,050,862 4 8 72.8% 

[Jalna](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/jalna/) 1,959,046 8 4 71.5% 

[Parbhani](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/parbhani/) 1,836,086 9 8 73.3% 

[Akola](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/akola/) 1,813,906 7 12 88.0% 

[Osmanabad](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/osmanabad/) 1,657,576 8 8 78.4% 

[Nandurbar](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/nandurbar/) 1,648,295 6 9 64.4% 

[Ratnagiri](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/ratnagiri/) 1,615,069 9 16 82.2% 

[Gondiya](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/gondiya/) 1,322,507 8 10 85.0% 

[Wardha](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/wardha/) 1,300,774 8 13 87.0% 

[Bhandara](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/bhandara/) 1,200,334 7 12 83.8% 

[Washim](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/washim/) 1,197,160 6 4 83.2% 

[Hingoli](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/hingoli/) 1,177,345 5 3 78.2% 

[Gadchiroli](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/gadchiroli/) 1,072,942 12 6 74.4% 

[Sindhudurg](https://wherepedia.org/india/maharashtra/sindhudurg/) 849,651 8 8 85.6% 

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

Boundaries and names as at the 2011 Census; districts created since then are not shown separately.

## Largest cities and towns in Maharashtra

- Greater Mumbai · 9,356,962
- Pune · 3,124,458
- Greater Mumbai · 3,085,411
- Nagpur · 2,405,665
- Thane · 1,841,488
- Pimpri Chinchwad · 1,727,692
- Nashik · 1,486,053
- Kalyan-Dombivli · 1,247,327
- Vasai-Virar City · 1,222,390
- Aurangabad · 1,175,116
- Navi Mumbai · 1,120,547
- Solapur · 951,558
- Mira-Bhayandar · 809,378
- Bhiwandi Nizampur · 709,665
- Amravati · 647,057
- Nanded Waghala · 550,439
- Kolhapur · 549,236
- Ulhasnagar · 506,098
- Sangli Miraj Kupwad · 502,793
- Malegaon · 481,228

## Quick answers

- What is the capital of Maharashtra?Mumbai and Nagpur
- What is the area of Maharashtra?307,713 km²
- Which states border Maharashtra?Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana
- What language is spoken in Maharashtra?Marathi (official)
- When is the best time to visit Maharashtra?October to February
- What is the literacy rate of Maharashtra?82.3% (Census 2011)
- What is the sex ratio of Maharashtra?929 women per 1,000 men (Census 2011)
- How many districts are in Maharashtra?35 (Census 2011)
- What is the population of Maharashtra?112,374,333 (Census 2011)
- Which is the most populous district of Maharashtra?Thane
- Which is the largest city in Maharashtra?Greater Mumbai